Aluminium Chloride
AlCl₃ | CAS: 7446-70-0 | HS: 28273100
Product Description
Aluminium Chloride (anhydrous) is one of the most powerful Lewis acid catalysts in industrial chemistry, driving Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions that underpin petroleum reforming, synthetic lubricant production, pharmaceutical synthesis, and dye manufacturing. In petroleum refining, it catalyses the alkylation of benzene to produce ethylbenzene (styrene precursor) and cumene (phenol/acetone precursor). In pharmaceutical synthesis, it enables the Friedel-Crafts acylation route to a broad range of drug intermediates. The hexahydrate form is used as a coagulant in water and wastewater treatment. MITCHEM supplies both anhydrous and hexahydrate grades with appropriate hazardous goods documentation.
Applications by Industry
Primary Lewis acid catalyst for benzene alkylation to produce ethylbenzene (→styrene) and cumene (→phenol/acetone); also used in lubricating oil manufacturing and petroleum cracking.
Enables Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions to produce aryl ketone intermediates for APIs and acylation of aromatic compounds in the synthesis of anthraquinone dyes and pigments.
Catalyst in the polymerisation of isobutylene to produce polyisobutylene (PIB) and butyl rubber; also used in the production of ethylene-propylene (EPDM) rubber.
Hexahydrate form functions as an aluminium-based coagulant for turbidity removal and phosphate precipitation in municipal and industrial water treatment plants.